The newly elected governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, was seen kneeling before Senate President Godswill Akpabio in a show of gratitude following his victory in the gubernatorial election held on Saturday.
Okpebholo, who secured his position as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), attributed part of his success to Akpabio’s support during the electoral process.
The Senate President was present in Edo State during the election and played a pivotal role in ensuring Okpebholo’s candidacy.
Initially, the political landscape was dominated by former governor Adams Oshiomhole, who had backed Dennis Idahosa, a current House of Representatives member, for the APC ticket.
However, Okpebholo’s determination saw him clinch the party’s nomination, leading Idahosa to accept the role of his running mate.
In a highly contested race, Okpebholo emerged victorious, garnering 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) finished in third place with 22,763 votes.
The APC’s strong performance was evident as they claimed victory in 11 out of the 18 local government areas in Edo State, while the PDP secured the remaining seven.